Hurricane Irma – Part 2: The Calm Before The Storm? Waiting For Disaster To Strike!

It’s Friday September 8, 2017. Yesterday I was blessed with a God story of having my sliders covered. 🙂 This morning and this afternoon I spent cooking meals for my sister and myself. Believe it or not, while I was cooking I couldn’t help but think about the 10 virgins; 5 had oil and 5 didn’t bring enough. And check THIS out, unknowing to you, I was BLESSED with being woken up abruptly – after 4 hours sleep – last Sunday to go to the store which I did happily. After all, who’s shopping for groceries at 6:30a at Walmart? Me and a few other people, and since Gordon Food opens at 7a, I managed to get my ritual (which is usually done on Saturdays) completed within 90 minutes flat including gassing up (which I almost didn’t BUT, the Holy Spirit was insistent and I listened.) It was the following day – Labor Day – was when I found out about hurricane Irma (Florida’s unwanted guest).

Today I had to pick up a Rx, and while I was at the store I crossed paths with a fellow Christian gal who confided in me that she’s really really scared and had a slight meltdown prior to coming in to work. I shared with her as a single sister that I can truly understand what she’s going through, and I had to remind her that our Lord has His hand upon her and that she has NOTHING to fear. Amen to that! While walking through the store I think I was the only extremely happy person there. And personally speaking – no matter what happens to me – I’m fine with it. But after dropping off food to my sisters and returning to my humble abode, I was greeted by several residents asking me about the roof. (yikes)

So, today’s worry is our “wonderful roof” that I’ve been warning my fellow board members about since 2012. Unfortunately, the “president” let everything fall to the way side and was more concerned with spending 55K per year and locking the community in a 5-year contract with ComCrap cable. Which brings me to my other complaint that I’ve been sounding the horn on since 2007 (mind you … I was on the board, and I personally hired a pest control company to inspect my unit, provided documentation, phone numbers AND specimens collected in a jar which I continue to do to THIS day lol) – AND yet, I was told I didn’t know what I was talking about. Well …. it was “officially” verified at the board meeting last week (for the 4th time) that my building has TERMITES!!! Yippee! Fellow residents wanted to “see” what a termite looked like which I happily ran back upstairs and grabbed one of the jars. The NEW BOARD was a bit surprised to see my “evidence” that I’ve been collecting for years and, it was confirmed – by the pest guy who was still present at the meeting – that what is in my jars are termites. Now, add Irma to the mix and our sacred new young resident approaching me with the question: Where’s the bad area of the roof? Where should I stay – in my unit or go to the rec room? What do I say to them? Well … (big sigh) Do I say stay “upstairs” or … go downstairs – which is an area that is total concrete BUT, will have flooding because of the surge that WILL occur? Hey … let me tell ya, When Wilma flew by, I had (for a brief moment) a condo on the canal! Furthermore, I’m unsure as to “where” to “go” in my own humble – termite infested – abode which seems to me – at this VERY moment – as being a house of cards. So, throughout my day – in between cooking and walking the halls – numerous residents were asking me about the roof…“where’s is the bad area”? Off the bat, it’s the North-east corner. And as everyone knows, once one part of the roof starts to blow away…. it’s just a matter of time for the rest to be peeled away too!

Curfew tomorrow is 3p. Emergency calls and texts begun last night at 11:30p and they’re nonstop. Took the doggies for a walk. The wind is blowing from the south-south west, it’s an eerie silence outside while I drink with my eyes probably one of the last truly beautiful South Florida late afternoon/early evening days before the scenery and all its loveliness is turned up-side down and into a disaster zone. I still have a few things to do that shouldn’t take long. I could do that tomorrow I suppose. After THAT’s done I begin to wait for Irma’s arrival, be comforted with some great studies by Scott Clark and Rabbi K Schneider, continue to be comforted that the Lord being by my side, perhaps watch something silly this evening (to try to take my mind off of it) and then pray without ceasing while enjoying life’s comforts (like a/c) and some GREAT Christian music while I have it. Right now, what’s playin’ in the background is Ray Stevens In The Eye of The Storm. How appropriate is THAT? I think it’s awesome! Click on the link to read the lyrics. Meanwhile …. I pray and wait in the Calm Before The Storm …Waiting For Disaster To Strike!

So here it is, Thursday Sept 7, 2017 and I’m patiently waiting for Irma – the unwanted guest to arrive. As opposed to pacing my floor, looking out the window, watching the direction the clouds are heading, checking the wind and running back and forth to the news (in hopes of hearing something different), I decided to write about it and perhaps share with out of the area people who are not in the same situation as myself, my family and my fellow Floridians are perhaps experiencing thus (and in hopes) giving you the ability to understand what “waiting for disaster to strike” is like.

For starters, I’m very grateful that I don’t have kids. On the other side of the coin, I have two little doggies who God has given to me as great companions and, I happily taken on the responsibility of being an excellent pet parent for all their days (or unless I’m raptured up) whichever comes first. You see, I reside on the Palm Beach/Broward county line in Humble Boca and my humble abode is about 1 mile away from the ocean. And from the looks of it, I’m on Irma’s direct path! I thought seriously about evacuating to the shelter only to discover it’s right down the street from me, which tells me – without even looking it up – I’m not in an evacuation zone, however, this storm is huge and no matter where I go – unless to the Midwest and grab one of my many cousin’s sofa or, off to California (which my friends have graciously opened their doors) – there’s no avoiding it. But suppose I did exit, what would forever be on my mind (until my return) would be my family’s safety and wondering if THEY are okay. I would also feel IF I decided to take the ride, as if I am abandoning them which to me is not happening. So I must remain in my humble – yet cool (for how long? I place in God’s hands completely) abode. The other “thoughts” that popped into play was: From my humble abode to Orlando is normally a two-and-a-half-hour drive north and, because of the panic that has already set in, would turn it into a 4+-hour drive to make. And, putting THAT aside, if I do exit it would probably take me light years to “return” to see the damages. These are just a few of the many thoughts that are running in a orderly manner through my head.

When you’re waiting for the storm to arrive, many thoughts go running through your mind like: Are my windows going to be bashed in? Should I keep my car near me or in the concrete parking lot on the other side of the block on the second floor? And if I DO park my car there do I need to worry about someone taking my gas or even stealing the “Paula Mobile”? Yikes! But let’s put that aside. Lets talk about when the power goes out. Heck, at least I’m on the hospital grid and it will be up in 3 days max. BUT, during those three hot and balmy days WHAT do I eat? Since I’m the daughter of King Jesus, I’m not eating plain tuna from a can. 😉 So, the question is: Should I make several noodle tuna dishes Friday evening and keep it in the frig? I have plenty of ice packs and I’ve been making ice since monday. Should I make more hard-boiled eggs? Should I make some chicken and fish and zip it up with my vacuum sealer and while I’m at it – zip up my important papers too??? Make sure to pull out the lantern (just in case) along with those D-batteries that’s recently been sparse. What about my clothes? Should I bag em all up and leave them hanging in the closet or should I put them in a plastic bin? What about pictures, should I bag those too along with the clothes? As for shoes… I don’t have many and all I need to do is zip it cuz they’re hangin’ in my humble closet ready to go. But, forget about any fashion show next week cuz I’ll be in survival mode and helping neighbors so I gotta make sure the Harley boots, sneakers and hiking boots are ready, along with work gloves and hats! Then there’s the “after the storm” clothes – which I’m just gonna pac in a large carry bag with socks, underwear, tops, toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturizer, lotion, mosquito wrist bands, Neosporin, Band-Aids, floss, shorts, brush, TP, paper towels, washcloths, deodorant and hair ties! Vitamins and Rx’s – they’ve been bagged since Monday and I’ll throw that in too!

Now for my babies food -that’s gonna be interesting! Both dogs are rescued dogs. Skippy the Amazing 3-legged shih tzu dislikes “hard food”. It has to be mixed with distilled water and he’s on a special diet to boot! So I’ll be making THAT tomorrow too! Little Girl on the other hand is a vocal Maltase who enjoys all food including Skippys! Their food can go in the roller thing that I recently got which will also stash their distilled H2o, treats and special food. Heck, if I have to exit stage left – it will even hold my food!

This morning when I woke up I kept on staring at my sliding glass doors. Actually, I’ve been staring at them since monday. I pondered the thought of running to home depot, grabbing some lumber and boarding up at least the slider. Of course they would have attached it to the roof for me but getting it up-the stairs would have been a sight to see (I weigh 109.2 lbs) let alone me getting it off the roof of the Paula Mobile. A few moments later my tech head neighbor invited me over to watch (and help) move things around in HIS humble abode. And shortly after my arrival he mentioned that Andre (the unit’s owner) was on his way to board up his sliders.

The little voice inside my head (since monday) was screaming at me this time saying: “board up the slider NOW!”. I’ve been through “warnings” before that I did heed (which is another God story for a later date) and decided (since we did what we needed to do) to politely excuse myself for a moment to act on what I’ve been told to do. Upon exiting I ran into one of the board members. Long story short, she told me to take the wood that was abandoned in one of the storage units – which I quickly snagged up and Andre arrived with a great crew, AND extra wood to not only board up his unit sliders but mine as well. THAT my dear friends is God in action and I am forever grateful for everything He does for me even if I lose everything. (which by the way, I have in the past and it was built up in a VERY mysterious yet amazing way. (that’s ANOTHER God story for another day.)

Friday is here! The emergency alerts are stating to begin. I must get some sleep because I know for sure I’ll be awake all night on Saturday and all day Sunday praying without ceasing. Zero Hour is quickly approaching. It’s the calm before the storm and all I can do now is wait for disaster to strike. To be continued…

It was a car accident instead.

Laurareplayed the events of that fateful day in a Facebook post by Love What Matters:

The last text conversation I had with Jon was how he and his buddy were trying to see if they could help the horrible fire that happened in downtown Raleigh March 16th. Between Jon’s Navy Seal and medic training he was doing what we had all seen him doing before in times of tragedy…helping those in distress.That night when I received the call, my first thought was he had been hurt in the fire as the lady on the phone said your husband is non responsive. Next I was told it was an automobile accident and that he suffered Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) forcing him into a coma.

Jonwas in a coma, and 90% of patients with severe DAI never regain consciousness.

But Jon did.

Today hes alert, and working tirelessly to re-learn just a fraction of the things he once knew.

With Laura supporting him by a belt in front, and the therapist guiding him from the back, the minute long clip shows Jon going from his wheelchair, to standing ALL the way up!

Everything in between is a sweet moment between a husband and wife, overcoming the battles they face, together. They kiss and whisper to each other, as viewers watch and see Jon draw from his wifes strength and vice-versa.

One of the nurses told me yesterday he had seen many guys with similar injuries in recovery and at this stage many show signs of frustration, but the nurse said Jon doesn’t show frustration, but rather determination. That statement will forever stick with me.

Laura says shes never fully been able to comprehend that Jons injury is the most severe form of traumatic brain injury.

I kept thinking, Jon is stronger than that. He beats the odds. Heck he is a Navy Seal. Nothing stops him.

It should come as no surprise that Gods people want Gods Word. A baby craves nothing more than his mothers milk because he necessary nothing more than his mothers milk. A Christian craves nothing more than Gods Word because there is nothing he necessity more than Gods Word. The Christian may not know it or be allowed to verbalize it any more than the babe can, but within every true follower will be a deep emptines to be fed by spiritual soul food that is found only in the Word of God. Those faiths that committed to proclaiming endless series of sermonettes for Christianettes were depriving their people. They were starving sheep in order to entertain goats.

Now Gallup assures us that we’ve got it incorrect, that what Christians miss is the straightforward proclaim of the Bible. Im glad to read these results. Im delighted to see that Gods people are picking Gods Word. But I dont crave rectors and their churches to jump on the biblical interpretation bandwagon.Instead, I want them to search the Scriptures, to learn what God enunciates about the relationship of his people to his Word, to understand the purpose of the weekly meets of the neighbourhood church, and then to commit from this day presented to preach Gods Word to Gods people.

Here’s the thing: Eventually Gallup or Barna or someone else will come up with a new referendum that they are able to display brand-new the outcome and mere bandwagoners will stray to this new direction. Their planted pragmatism will drive them to the next big circumstance. But people who are convinced from the Bible that there is nothing better than to urge the Bible will stay the course. Even when Bible-based evangelism is the very last situation one wants, these rectors will know it is the very first thing they need.